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What Does "Feminism" Mean to You?
- Thread starter Sunstone
- Start date
Me Myself
Back to my username
I understand that it is an ideology that allegedly seeks equality to both genders, but only cares to help women attain equality to men and it has nothing to do with achiving the opposite thing (men getting equality to women in the areas this is needed)
First thing that comes to mind is the radical examples of it I must admit, where not only does feminism does not care for men´s rights, but it actively reduces them in comparison to women´s.
I understand the movement has been a blessing to women in the regard that it has helped them attain equality in areas they needed it. It worries me that in my opinon, there does need to be a movement to target men´s needs, because of posible overcompensation for the ills women suffer/ed that may come from feminism alone.
I pretty much thnk the term "equality" should be more proper for what they are aiming. But I think it is okay "feminism" still exists if "masculism" gets more power.
First thing that comes to mind is the radical examples of it I must admit, where not only does feminism does not care for men´s rights, but it actively reduces them in comparison to women´s.
I understand the movement has been a blessing to women in the regard that it has helped them attain equality in areas they needed it. It worries me that in my opinon, there does need to be a movement to target men´s needs, because of posible overcompensation for the ills women suffer/ed that may come from feminism alone.
I pretty much thnk the term "equality" should be more proper for what they are aiming. But I think it is okay "feminism" still exists if "masculism" gets more power.
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Shuddhasattva
Well-Known Member
Something which tries hard to achieve equality, has achieved important milestones in the overall development of humanism, often shoots itself in the foot, has a tendency in the ivory tower of academia to encase itself within ultimately divisive and unilluminating viewpoints, and is unfortunately, by virtue of its subtly or obviously partisan nature, myopic with varying degrees. At times has been unwitting accomplice to social evils.
An important stepping stone for human development, but one that must be transcended. Let's have some gender inclusive humanism and be done with it.
An important stepping stone for human development, but one that must be transcended. Let's have some gender inclusive humanism and be done with it.
sandandfoam
Veteran Member
On the one hand it means to me what it says on the box - advocacy of equal rights for women.
On the other it is a word I associate with the type of people I admire - gutsy, intelligent and engaging. People who (rightly) refuse to accept inferiority and who will stand up to be counted.
I am an admirer of feminists, I would like to think I am one and the word is a most positive one to my mind.
On the other it is a word I associate with the type of people I admire - gutsy, intelligent and engaging. People who (rightly) refuse to accept inferiority and who will stand up to be counted.
I am an admirer of feminists, I would like to think I am one and the word is a most positive one to my mind.
That you should be able to be yourself and not having to worry about being descriminated or judged based on gender.
Yeah, sometimes it goes too far. Have a vague memory of a politican over here who proposed a "male-tax", but I am not sure if I remember correctly.
Feminism....so diverse a range of beliefs with a single name.
It means I must question to find out what the individual believes.
It means I must question to find out what the individual believes.
Rakhel
Well-Known Member
^This^
The choice as to whether to stay home and raise kids, with out the judgement that "I don't work," or the choice whether to go to work and leave the kids at home, without the judgement that "I do work."
In some cases, "feminism" is a double edged sword that can hurt no matter who wields it.
Feminism means to me equal rights and equal opportunity for all genders. Period.
A progressive social movement that began before my time that helped disentangle sex (biologically male/female) and gender (social construct of roles/abilities/personalities appropriate for biological males/females), thereby demolishing many of the overtly oppressive and sexist mindsets towards people happening to be biologically female. It's a movement that, without which, I most assuredly never would have been allowed to obtain a master's degree and have any kind of career, as supposedly this is "against" the "proper" role of my gender.
The job isn't done yet, however. Sexism is still pervasive and the construct of gender (which is an engine of sexism) still has a stranglehold on many minds.
The job isn't done yet, however. Sexism is still pervasive and the construct of gender (which is an engine of sexism) still has a stranglehold on many minds.
Equal rights and opportunities for men and women.
...with the name having a clear emphasis on women because, historically, it has been women that have had issues like not being able to vote, or not being equally represented in government or powerful business positions.
Apex
Somewhere Around Nothing
Honest question here: I have seen a lot of effort from feminism meant to encourage gender neutral descriptors. Has there been an effort to rename the Feminist movement to something that is itself, a gender neutral descriptor, thus giving it more credence to the goal of equal opportunity for all genders?
And my general experience with feminism has been with (what I hope is) the more extreme versions, and has generally left a bad taste in my mouth.
Gjallarhorn
N'yog-Sothep
An unintended joke.
Shuddhasattva
Well-Known Member
It is a poor goal for women to achieve "equal representation" with men in such arenas, as men are hardly 'equally represented' to begin with.
I understand that I'm using the phrase 'equal representation' differently, but I think this sort of feminism negates the overall goals of humanism, and also causes an insularity and myopia born of concern for one's own "kind."
I understand that I'm using the phrase 'equal representation' differently, but I think this sort of feminism negates the overall goals of humanism, and also causes an insularity and myopia born of concern for one's own "kind."
What you had been seeing are arguments for matriarchy and female privilege, I suspect. Not feminism. I do ask what sources you've come in contact with that have left a bad taste in your mouth, out of curiosity.
Also, to answer your previous question of changing the descriptor from feminism to something that is gender neutral, my personal opinion after much study is that once we globally can find zero sexist oppression against female protections, rights, and opportunities, I believe feminism will then and only then become unnecessary.
Until then, it is still highly relevent, given that we currently exist in a society where women are largely underrepresented in the highest positions with decision-making power for the masses.
How comfortable would men feel facing a decision made by a panel of women who would ultimately decide what is going to happen with your testicles? Here is a scenario.....a panel of women based on their individual morals decide that it's God's will to make men breeding machines only between the ages of 18-21, and then chemically castrate men in order to control population growth, mortality of fathers and better ensure a father's involvement in a child's life due to average age of life expectancy (no more new dads at age 80), and would make the infertility irreversable for the betterment of society and to protect the family structure.
I'd assume that men would quickly become very concerned about their own protections and rights over their own bodies.
But this is precisely what has been happening to women by a panel of men in government. In 2012. We have a ways to go before equal rights and protections are realized.
There are masculinists who don't believe in marital rape, since marriage is assumed to be a sexual contract between a man and his wife. Such views make me shudder and feel very unsafe.
Alceste
Vagabond
Modern feminism does include concern and activism for all groups of traditionally exploited, oppressed or marginalized people, FYI. It frames poverty, for example, as an issue of particular concern to women. It has embraced LGBTG activism and pacifism too. Basically, anything that sucks in general sucks for women in particular, because we are relatively disenfranchised, globally speaking, and often have the additional difficulty of caring for children as well as whatever difficulties men and women have in common.